Shloka 21

Purusha-Strī-Lakṣaṇa (Samudrika-śāstra): Marks of Kingship, Wealth, Longevity, and Conduct

Devanagari script

दरिद्रः क्षारगन्धे च दीर्घायुः शीघ्रमैथुनी / अशीघ्रमैथुन्यल्पायुः स्थूलस्फिक् स्याद्धनोज्झितः

Transliteration

daridraḥ kṣāragandhe ca dīrghāyuḥ śīghramaithunī / aśīghramaithunyalpāyuḥ sthūlasphik syāddhanojjhitaḥ

Translation

体臭が塩気・アルカリのようである者は貧しくなる。交合において速やかな女は長命とされ、速やかでない女は短命とされる。臀が大きい者は財に恵まれぬと説かれる。

Word by Word

• दरिद्रः: poor
• दरिद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (implicit person)

• क्षारगन्धे: in alkaline/salty smell
• क्षारगन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; क्षार + गन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधकः अव्ययम्

• दीर्घायुः: long-lived
• दीर्घायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ-आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक; दीर्घ + आयुस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• शीघ्रमैथुनी: quick in intercourse
• शीघ्रमैथुनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र-मैथुनी (प्रातिपदिक; शीघ्र + मैथुनी)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अशीघ्रमैथुनी: not quick in intercourse
• अशीघ्रमैथुनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शीघ्र-मैथुनी (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + शीघ्र + मैथुनी)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अल्पायुः: short-lived
• अल्पायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प-आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक; अल्प + आयुस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• स्थूलस्फिक्: having large buttocks
• स्थूलस्फिक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल-स्फिज्/स्फिक् (प्रातिपदिक; स्थूल + स्फिक्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• धनोज्झितः: deprived of wealth
• धनोज्झितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन-उज्झित (प्रातिपदिक; धन + उज्झित)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (उज्झित = त्यक्त); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly fortune and lifespan are presented as readable through bodily odor and sexual responsiveness—seen as karmic indicators.

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment as a ledger of prārabdha; impermanence of wealth and life-span conditioned by prior causes.

Application: Avoid stigmatizing bodies; treat ‘alkaline/salty odor’ as a health/hygiene signal; approach longevity claims as non-literal and prioritize wellbeing and respectful relationships.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (continued physiognomic prognostics; neighboring verses on body shape and wealth)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily signs (śārīrika-lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily odour and physical traits as indicative signs (lakṣaṇa) connected to one’s fortune (dhana) and lifespan (āyus), used as traditional markers within the Ācāra Kāṇḍa context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the post-death journey here; instead, it links embodied characteristics and tendencies with outcomes like longevity and prosperity, implying karmic patterns expressed through the body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional cultural lens rather than deterministic judgment: focus on health, hygiene, and ethical living (dharma) as the controllable factors behind well-being and stability.